Nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage battery and nickel-hydrogen storage battery using the same

Abstract

A nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries which is improved in the rate of utilization of the nickel hydroxide in a wide temperature range with an oxygen evolving overvoltage being increased by incorporating at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds of yttrium, indium, antimony, barium and beryllium, and at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds of cobalt and calcium into the nickel positive electrode (2), and a nickel-hydrogen storage battery using the same.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pasted nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries comprising an active material containing a major component of nickel oxide, and a support selected from the group consisting of a bulk porous body, porous plate and a plate supporting said active material and imparting electroconductivity thereto, wherein said active material contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of yttrium, indium and antimony. 
     
     
       2. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 1, wherein said compounds of yttrium, indium and antimony are Y 2  O 3 , Y(OH) 3 , In 2  O 3 , In 2  O, In 2  O 3  ·H 2  O, Sb 2  O 3  and Sb 2  O 4  [, Ba (OH) 2 , Ca(OH) 2 , CaO, BeO and Be (OH) 2  ]. 
     
     
       3. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 1, wherein said compounds of yttrium, indium and antimony are included in an amount of 0.5 to 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said nickel oxide. 
     
     
       4. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 1, wherein said active material contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of cobalt, cobalt hydroxide and cobalt oxide. 
     
     
       5. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 1, wherein said active material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide. 
     
     
       6. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 1, wherein said bulk porous body is selected from the group consisting of foamed porous nickel body, fibrous porous nickel body, sintered porous nickel body, porous plate, perforated metal and expanded metal. 
     
     
       7. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 1, wherein said plate is a nickel or nickel plated iron foil. 
     
     
       8. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 6, wherein said foamed porous nickel body has a facial density of 200 to 700 g/m 2 . 
     
     
       9. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 1, wherein said nickel oxide is spherical particles. 
     
     
       10. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 1, wherein said active material is pasted and contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of carbon and nickel. 
     
     
       11. A pasted nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries comprising an active material containing a major component of nickel oxide, and a support selected form the group consisting of a bulk porous body, porous plate and a plate supporting said active material and imparting electroconductivity thereto, wherein said active material contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of cobalt, cobalt hydroxide and cobalt oxide and at least one calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium fluoride, calcium sulfide, calcium peroxide and calcium silicate. 
     
     
       12. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 11, wherein said calcium compound is included in an amount of 0.5 to 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said nickel oxide. 
     
     
       13. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 11, wherein said active material is pasted and contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide. 
     
     
       14. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 11, wherein said bulk porous body is selected from the group consisting of foamed porous nickel body, fibrous porous nickel body, porous plate, perforated metal and expanded metal. 
     
     
       15. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 11, wherein said plate is a nickel or nickel plated iron foil. 
     
     
       16. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 14, wherein said foamed porous nickel body and said fibrous porous nickel body have a facial density of 200 to 700 g/m 2 . 
     
     
       17. The nickel positive electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries according to claim 11, wherein said active material is pasted and contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of carbon and nickel. 
     
     
       18. A nickel-hydrogen storage battery which comprises a nickel positive electrode comprising an active material containing a major component of nickel oxide, a negative electrode consisting of a main body composed of an hydrogen storage alloy capable of electrochemically absorbing and desorbing hydrogen, an alkaline electrolyte, a separator, a case surrounding those cell components, and a sealing plate equipped with a relief valve, wherein: said nickel positive electrode before initially charging comprises a paste comprising nickel hydroxide, at least one member of the group consisting of cobalt, cobalt hydroxide and cobalt oxide, at least one member of the group consisting of zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide and at least one calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium fluoride, calcium sulfide, calcium peroxide and calcium silicate, said at least one member of the group of zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide being 0.5 to 5 parts by weight, said at least one calcium compound being 0.5 to 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the nickel hydroxide;   a bulk porous body, porous plate, or plate supporting said paste and imparting electroconductivity thereto;   said alkaline electrolyte having a specific gravity of 1.2 to 1.3 at 20° C.;   the theoretical negative electrode capacity being not less than 1.1 times the theoretical positive electrode capacity; and   the amount of electrolyte being 1.0 to 2.5 cm 3  /Ah cell capacity.   
     
     
       19. The nickel-hydrogen storage battery according to claim 18, wherein said bulk porous body is selected from the group consisting of foamed porous nickel body, fibrous porous nickel body, porous plate, perforated metal and expanded metal. 
     
     
       20. The nickel-hydrogen storage battery according to claim 18, wherein said plate is a nickel or nickel plated iron foil. 
     
     
       21. The nickel-hydrogen storage battery according to claim 18, wherein said foamed porous nickel body and said fibrous porous nickel body have a facial density of 200 to 700 g/m 2 . 
     
     
       22. The nickel-hydrogen storage battery according to claim 18, wherein said alkaline electrolyte comprises at least one member of the group consisting of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, and lithium hydroxide. 
     
     
       23. The nickel-hydrogen storage battery according to claim 18, wherein said separator is sulfonated. 
     
     
       24. The nickel-hydrogen storage battery according to claim 18, wherein said nickel positive electrode contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of carbon and nickel.